Israel warns Gaza protesters: Stay away from border fence

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat poses with a new road sign to the new US Embassy in Jerusalem. Photo / AP

Israel's military warned Gaza residents that it would stop any breach of its border fence and that those approaching it in a planned mass protest would be putting their lives in danger.

Gaza's Hamas rulers said tens of thousands were expected to head to the border overnight and raised the possibility of large crowds breaking through the fence.

The overnight march was part of a weeks-long campaign, led by Hamas and fuelled by despair among Gaza's 2 million people, to break the decade-old border blockade of the territory by Israel and Egypt.

Since weekly border marches began in late March, 42 Palestinian protesters have been killed and more than 1800 wounded by Israeli army fire.

Leaflets dropped over Gaza by army jets warned that those approaching the border "jeopardise" their lives. The warning said the army was "prepared to face all scenarios and will act against every attempt to damage the security fence or harm IDF soldiers or Israeli civilians".

The overnight protest was also designed to target the inauguration of the United States Embassy in Jerusalem later today.

President Donald Trump announced his decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, triggering a joyous reaction from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist Government. The move infuriated the Palestinians, who seek to establish a future capital in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.

As part of celebrations leading up to the embassy's formal opening, Israel hosted a gala party at its Foreign Ministry with Trump's daughter Ivanka, her husband, Jared Kushner, and other American VIPs.

- AP